To ask if London living is all that?

[nellyolsenscurl]

Inspired by a thread where posters are saying things like 'unless you live in London you couldn't possibly understand the benefits' and 'London living is one of the best things a child could have' (paraphrased, but you get the poi t). One poster said that her dd's friend didn't have a bedroom, she had a bed in the hallway but this is worth it for London life etc.

I've visited and yes it does seem amazing, but I was surprised at how busy the underground was at rush hour, I didn't think public transport was that cheap and in some parts the signs about knife crime/murder was daunting. Obviously as well extortionate house prices/rents mean more likelihood of living in a smaller place.

So London Livers (TM) please tell me about the great things (and any negatives) In my dreams when my dc leave the nest I will buy a lift conversion in Neal's Yard with those lovely coloured facades 😬

Looking at a pic on my phone of grandchildren eating ice cream under a tree earlier today, surrounded by greenery. Was it at half term in the New Forest? Or when they came to visit me (rural W Midlands)?
No, it was near their home in North London last time I visited.

I love it. We're in a very central part of London with 2 DCs. We either walk everywhere or use tubes/trains and are within easy reach of just about anywhere we'd want to go.

There are endless parks, playgrounds, free kids activities all within easy reach. Both schools are walking distance from our house, and from my work.

No one drives because you don't need to, it's expensive, and you can get pretty much anywhere on foot from where we live. Other than that the transport connections are amazing and the DCs are free on the buses, one is still free on the tube and the other gets discounted tube fares.

This weekend we jumped on a bus to the National Gallery for an hour, then walked to Leicester Square and spent ages hanging out there because my youngest loves all the street entertainers. Today, we went for a really long walk around Hyde Park. When it was really hot we spent ages in the parks (Regents, Hyde) or went to Granary Square for the fountains, or got the bus to a nearby park which has a free waterpark for the kids. WE regularly visit the Science Museum and Natural History museums. We love just popping in for an hour or 2 and spending time in one particular exhibition or area of the museum. The Tate is also another favourite of the DCs. Sometimes we go just to find a particular artist if they are learning about them at school.

Im very glad now as they get older that we didn't move out when they were younger, we talked about it a lot but neither of us really wanted to do it, we just felt like it was something people did. But at the end of the day it doesn't suit everyone.

Some people like mega cities and some people don't.
I do, and London is one of the best.

What's amazing about living in all that pollution?

I feel utterly claustrophobic being in the countryside. It's nice to visit for a day or short break, but living rurally would be my idea of hell on earth. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I step onto the platform at Euston / Kings Cross / Paddington / Waterloo. I grew up in suburbia up north but having now lived in London for 14 years I can't imagine living anywhere else. I'm a town mouse rather than country mouse

I love London and can’t be bothered to waste my time explaining why. It’s a completely different experience to the rest of the uk, including large cities like Manchester/Birmingham etc. If you don’t get it, you just don’t get it and I can’t be bothered to justify myself to someone who won’t understand.

@RedneckStumpy you say there's no greenery but that's incorrect! London is packed with parks. Literally there are loads of them. It's much greener than other cities. Busier and more polluted, yes; but on this specific point you stand incorrect

Wow hannnnnxo don't think you need to be so defensive, lots of people on this thread have lived in London previously or have lived in lots of different places and are discussing the merits of various places v London's. Don't think you have to be quite so aggressive!!

I'm sorry but chuckling at London becoming a seperate country. What would you do have to show your passport before you come off the motorway?!

Those that say there are no green spaces in London obviously haven’t been. Even in central London you are falling over green spaces. I think people like to hate London, it’s dirty, it’s grey, it’s this or that, but I love it here and I couldn’t be anywhere else.
My husband and I have a lovely home, my daughter is spoilt for activities to do, we have a small business and we have a nice life. I know my income wouldn’t be as high anywhere else, and for me the negatives far far far out weigh the cons.

We live in zone 3 and I love it. Central London is a 20 min tube journey and countryside is a short drive. I can walk to nearby woods.
I can honestly say that my kids never say that they’re bored. We take advantage of all the free stuff, and some that costs, that London has to offer and my kids still go off on bike rides with neighbours to explore woods.
Their school is rated outstanding and they mix with people from so many different cultures.
I have close friends from all over the world and we have evenings out in central London as well as check out exhibitions or just stroll along the south bank if we fancy it.
Our house is adequate. We probably could afford a huge place elsewhere but I’m not interested in moving.

We live in a bit of London that's not great for amenities, but we have a park on the doorstep. If you have the money and actually do it, there are lots of places to visit, I don't think many Londoners do though.

Everyone likes to think where they live is special, that it has amazing things that other places don’t.

In reality there are very few things that can’t be replicated elsewhere whether greenery, culture etc.

If you’re lucky enough to find somewhere that you love to live, that’s the important thing.

Lived in Bayswater for a while. Absolutely loved it. Just had my first ds. I was very young too so just loved the buzz during the evening. I popped out on the balcony and just watched people while ds slept soundly next to me ( tiny flat right on the high street). Hyde park across the street and endless shops and restaurants a stones throw away. Couldn’t live there now though.

I live here. Couldn’t and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Zone 4, 2 bed. Was brought up in zone 2 but affordability meant further out. I live in north london though.

Everyone has already given the stock answers. I’ve never found anywhere else I’d rather live. I went to uni in the midlands and have travelled. This is my home and we’re lucky to have decent jobs and live in a lovely area which means we can enjoy the best bits.

Living on a train line which ‘the fastest trains’ get me in in 35 mins (bet they aren’t frequent!) wouldn’t be enough for me. I love my city.

Jean maybe han was ‘aggressive’ because, like me, he or she is sick to death of constantly having to justify where we choose to live.
I don’t see endless threads asking people to justify why they live in Cardif or Bristol or Newbury or Chepstow or the Shetlands or anywhere else apart from London. It just gets beyond tedious.
There is another thread running about the OP’s MIL constantly saying how small the OP’s London flat is and there is one particular poster who is saying that any child who does not have a garden is horribly deprived and keeps banging on about picking blackberries and French beans.

Tbh zone 4 though is that really London living? Does that not take about 45 mins on the tube into central?

@jean nope. 25 mins to central london. Moorgate in 30 on the train.

Mrhoolie don't think this thread is asking people to explain or justify why they live there, people are just asking for opinions? And people are sharing anecdotes and at stuff. I lived in London and loved it. I moved but don't expect everyone to. Sounds like OP is thinking of moving to London and asking what people think?

I work in south ken - so west central. Door to door in under 50 inc walking either side.

I moved from London (South West) to rural Sweden 3 years ago. Swapped a tiny London flat (outgrown with two kids) for a no mortgage massive house with its own barn in a rural Swedish village. BIG MISTAKE. Here there is no community, neighbours don't even acknowledge each let alone us - despite our invitations. Our kids were in an outstanding rated school in the London but the local school here is so poor that only 30% of the Teachers are qualified.

Tons of stuff to do with the kids in London. Loved the diversity. Loads of great parks and playgrounds, kids were in a great school.

Desperate to move back but now can't afford it and we are stuck in a Scandinavian version of Twins Peaks. Would swap stunning scenery, no traffic and clean air for grey concrete, traffic congestion and pollution in a heartbeat.

LONDON - I STILL LOVE YOU

World class bars, restaurants, theatres, museums, architecture, pageantry. Parks. Vibrant diversity. 24/7 life and transport. Markets. River.

Ah that's good since2016, was staying with my dps friends in Barking the other month and it seemed to take bloody ages to get into London for dinner. Worth it though

I am moving back to London next month. I can't wait!

What I like about London is what others have said: public transportation, shops, culture, vibrancy, etc. I particularly like taking cooking classes and attending lectures / debates.

I would love to live in London. I love the buzz and 24hr ness. Due to DPs job we currently live in a rural town and despite joining various clubs I have never felt so lonely and frustrated by the lack of diversity and aloofness of locals.

I have never struggled to make friends but having been out with anyone in over a year. Even if I did we would be going to the same small pub frequented by the same people every time.